Help With Packing a Carry-On
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 9
Help With Packing a Carry-On
I'm in the process of replacing my 23" Delsey trolley carry-on, which could be more than 10 years old at this point. The bags I'm looking at are smaller, especially if I go with a spinner. (22x13 or 14 is what I'm looking at in terms of total size.) I travel for both business and vacation/family & friends.
My question is how to get away with the smaller bag? I'm typically wearing my running shoes on the plane, so that means the 2nd pair is packed. The generic leather toiletry bag takes up bulk even with travel sized bottles for the shaving and hair products. I have a Sonicare toothbrush as well. I currently use the medium sized Eagle Creek packing folder along with a large travel cube and a small bag with workout gear. (The later can be shoved in just about anywhere.) If it's a business trip, I'll have a blazer and lace up dress shoes in the luggage as well.
Any suggestions you can give would be much appreciated, including threads I may have missed or YouTube videos I should watch. Product suggestions are helpful as well.
My question is how to get away with the smaller bag? I'm typically wearing my running shoes on the plane, so that means the 2nd pair is packed. The generic leather toiletry bag takes up bulk even with travel sized bottles for the shaving and hair products. I have a Sonicare toothbrush as well. I currently use the medium sized Eagle Creek packing folder along with a large travel cube and a small bag with workout gear. (The later can be shoved in just about anywhere.) If it's a business trip, I'll have a blazer and lace up dress shoes in the luggage as well.
Any suggestions you can give would be much appreciated, including threads I may have missed or YouTube videos I should watch. Product suggestions are helpful as well.
#2
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Executive Club, Qatar Airways Privilege, Clan LoganAir
Posts: 112
We've all got our own preferences and styles, so this is what works for me. If you need to take running shoes, pack them and wear your other shoes en route. Or there's a good discussion elsewhere on this forum about shoes that can cope with both running and general wear. Likewise, wear the blazer - it will stand being worn/hung on the plane a lot better than folded in your case. Find shoes that are smart enough for business but versatile enough for more casual everyday use, then the separate dress shoe option can be avoided. Ditch the leather wash-bag and use a simple see-through plastic case instead eg Muji TPU Clear Case 12x18.5x4cm - saves space, and essential anyway IME if you're travelling internationally and don't want to be juggling liquids for security checks. Good luck.
#3
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Central Mass
Programs: Independent
Posts: 4,829
Are you using just one bag, or that one bag plus a "personal item"? Quite hoinestly I think a personal item might help you in this case.
For me, I use vacuum bags - I have ones that can work with both vacuum and without. For me they are great, but most of my stuff can squish down. Shoes obviously would not. A lot of people go the route of rolling up their clothes - there are tones of Youtube videos on this - which is a solution if the bags are not. In your case it sounds more like you have a lot of odd shaped and inflexible things. Maybe spend some time seeing how you can pack them together more tightly, or see if you can find alternatives that can be packed more efficiently (for instance, can you find one pair of shoes that fits both needs?).
For me, I use vacuum bags - I have ones that can work with both vacuum and without. For me they are great, but most of my stuff can squish down. Shoes obviously would not. A lot of people go the route of rolling up their clothes - there are tones of Youtube videos on this - which is a solution if the bags are not. In your case it sounds more like you have a lot of odd shaped and inflexible things. Maybe spend some time seeing how you can pack them together more tightly, or see if you can find alternatives that can be packed more efficiently (for instance, can you find one pair of shoes that fits both needs?).
#5
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 77
Shoes are the most difficult factor in my carry-on packing - I wear size15!
I have a couple of pair of shoes that are comfortable and can be worn for either dress or casual. One pair is more dressy and one is more casual. I wear the pair that is most appropriate for the trip. I dance for recreation, so I carry one or two pair of dance shoes as well, plus flip flops for in the room and pool area.
As stated above, if you haven’t yet, utilize a personal item. I keep my essentials in mine, and it is pretty big. Or do as my gf does and just check a bag and make life easy
I have a couple of pair of shoes that are comfortable and can be worn for either dress or casual. One pair is more dressy and one is more casual. I wear the pair that is most appropriate for the trip. I dance for recreation, so I carry one or two pair of dance shoes as well, plus flip flops for in the room and pool area.
As stated above, if you haven’t yet, utilize a personal item. I keep my essentials in mine, and it is pretty big. Or do as my gf does and just check a bag and make life easy
#6
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 6
I place my socks, ties and belt in a plastic or ziplock bag and stuff them in the shoes if I pack a second pair. Plus packing cubes with some compression function via a second row of zippers. Also I would ditch all leather items for waterproof ripstop nylon for toiletries . They don't retain smell and cut the weight significantly. Most of my travel needs are served with practical objectives in mind rather than style.
Also, basically revamped my travel wardrobe to include more versatile clothing and shoes(which can match several outfits easily) and/ or lighterweight tech fabrics that can also be easily washed and dry fast at destination. Anti-microbial clothes that do not stink up and DWR functions are a welcome addition.
I wear or hold on to a "travel" jacket with numerous inner and outer pockets which I use to keep many personal items on me. This way, several items can be "contained" in this jacket and it doesn't constitute part of the carry on baggage.
Also, basically revamped my travel wardrobe to include more versatile clothing and shoes(which can match several outfits easily) and/ or lighterweight tech fabrics that can also be easily washed and dry fast at destination. Anti-microbial clothes that do not stink up and DWR functions are a welcome addition.
I wear or hold on to a "travel" jacket with numerous inner and outer pockets which I use to keep many personal items on me. This way, several items can be "contained" in this jacket and it doesn't constitute part of the carry on baggage.